EDUCATION or THE WORKING CLASSES. 77 



the absolute power of the spiritual order." From the time of the 

 Refoi-mation to the commencement of the nineteenth century, not 

 much had been done to educate the masses ; now and then, it is 

 true, the power of a cultivated mind became known — proving what 

 the mind could accomplish when properly trained. But these were 

 as meteors shooting across the horizon ; the effect produced was of 

 small amount. The mind of adults, in its then uncultivated state, 

 could not understand the value, much less appreciate and apply, 

 the gift thus placed within its reach. Mankind were dazzled, but not 

 instructed ; with the few where an impression was made, it was at 

 best but transient. The seed thus cast into ground not previously 

 prepared for its reception, required the subsequent diligent care of 

 the husbandman, in order that it might produce fruit ; and for lack 

 of this assistance it perished. 



At the middle of the eighteenth century, it will be found that the 

 middle classes at that period had made some progress in tlie culti- 

 vation of the mind ; and although the contrast between that period 

 and the present is very great — so gieat that we are apt to think the 

 amount of knowledge possessed at that period to have been very 

 trifling and of little value — yet it would be found, did we possess 

 the same facilities, enabling us to judge as we have between that 

 period and the present, that the knowledge possessed at that period 

 was not only spread over a larger field, and its advantages tested by 

 a gi'eater number than at any previous period, but the advance 

 made was very considerable, and a strong desire existed that its 

 benefits should be imparted to the classes immediately beneath 

 them. From that time up to the period of the French Revolution, 

 this had made rapid strides. Men became sensible of the respon- 

 sibility, in a moral point of view, resting upon them, when the talents 

 entrusted to their keeping had been allowed to lie useless. This 

 had not been jireviously considered or understood; but now that the 

 value of a cultivated mind became known, and the importance 

 attached to all that were removed, however little, from the ignorant 

 mass, the work was set about with alacrity, the progress made being 

 suflScient to give a spur to the exertions of those who had shewn but 

 little interest in the matter, although their attention must have been 

 alive to a part of the advantages following its adoption. 



